Present Tense of Tener and Tener Idioms

Spanish 1- Chapter 4

Tener• Use the verb tener to tell what someone has.

To conjugate the yo form, drop the -er ending and add –go. To conjugate all other forms except for nosotros and vosotros , change the –e to –ie.Yo Tengo Nosotros Tenemos

Tú Tienes Vosotros Tenéis

Él, ella, usted Tiene Ellos, ellas, ustedes Tienen

In sentences…

• Do you have a pen?• ¿Tienes un bolígrafo?

• No. I have a pencil• No. Tengo un lápiz.

Tener Idioms• Tener is also used in these common expressions…– To have to do something- tener que + infinitive– To feel like doing something- tener ganas de +

infinitive– To be in a hurry- tener prisa– To be hungry- tener hambre– To be thirsty- tener sed

• HOWEVER- in all of the above phrases…TENER has to be conjugated (changed) to say WHO!

Tener idioms in sentences…

• I feel like resting. What about you?• Tengo ganas de descansar. ¿Y tú?

• I’m in a hurry. I have to go to a rehearsal.• Tengo prisa. Tengo que ir a un ensayo.

• Victor is hungry. Are you hungry?• Victor tiene hambre. ¿Tienes hambre?